Devotional for the day

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals February 11, 2009

Path To Humility
READ: Psalm 131
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. -James 4:10

My friend declared, as he tried to keep a straight face, "I'm so proud of my humility!" That reminds me of the joke about a leader who was given an award for his humility. Because he accepted the award, it was taken back the following week!

David seemed to be making the same error when he said, "My heart is not haughty" (Ps. 131:1). When we understand the text, however, we know that he wasn't boasting about his humility. Rather, in response to the accusation of treason made by Saul's men, David stated he didn't consider himself so important nor think of himself so highly as to have "lofty" eyes.

Instead, David learned to be like a "weaned child" in the Lord's arms (v.2). Like a baby who is completely dependent on his parents, he waited on God for His protection while he was a fugitive under King Saul's pursuit. In his darkest hour, David realized his need and then advised his people: "Hope in the Lord from this time forth and forever" (v.3).

The path to humility is twofold. It involves knowing who we are-having a proper self-esteem rather than thinking too highly of self. But most important, it requires knowing who God is-holding Him in highest esteem and trusting Him for His best in His time.  - Albert Lee

Humility's a slippery prize
That seldom can be won;
We're only humble in God's eyes
When serving like His Son. -Gustafson


When we think we're humble-we're not.

Do You Know Who You Are?
By Os Hillman

"Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart" (Ps 36:10).

Someone once said, "Success is when those who know you the best are those who love you the most."

Years ago a man named Jahari developed a self-assessment tool that helps us understand how we relate to others. The Jahari Window helps us realize where we are in our ability to know who we are and for others to know who we are. Real transparency in communication takes place when those we associate with us know who we are after we discover who we really are. See if you can identify what category you might fall among these four:

Transparent Life
The transparent life is the life we should desire. I know who I am and others know me. There is nothing hidden. I have come to know who I am as an individual and basically people get what they see in me.

Bull-In-The-China Shop
This person is blinded to the things that others recognize about him. The solution to becoming a transparent person is to get feedback from those around us about the blind spots in our personality. We must ask for the feedback and be willing to respond to their input.

Aloof/Hidden Secrets
This person lives in a secret world. They don't allow others to know about themselves. They know themselves but are fearful of letting others know. Those around them do not know them either. What do others really know about you? Have you allowed yourself to get close enough to others to share who you really are inside?

Hidden Potential
This is a combination of Bull-In-A-China Shop and Aloof/Hidden Secrets. It is the saddest of all conditions. These people don't know themselves and others don't know them either. This means both parties have to invest the energy to communicate and get feedback from one another.

How about you? Why not take a step to find out who you really are in the eyes of others. It could change your life.

Contact Os Hillman at www.marketplaceleaders.org.

Achieving Authentic Success 6-CD Set
Achieving Authentic Success
Dr. Ron Jenson, America's Life Coach, shares over six hours of his immensely valuable insights and wisdom in this 6-CD series on Achieving Authentic Success. Each principle is unpacked to help you maximize your personal and professional opportunities so you can live a life of significance and impact. Order or Learn More 

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture

"The LORD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him-my father's God, and I will exalt him!" Exodus 15:2 NLT

Thoughts for Today

Many godly heroes have had setbacks, handicaps or poor family conditions. Numerous people in history could easily have settled for being a victim, but chose not to.

One godly hero in the Bible was Gideon. He was called by God when Israel was suffering from the oppressive rule of the Midianites. An angel appeared to Gideon, declaring, "The Lord is with you." Gideon saw his family as being the weakest in their tribe and himself as the least of his family. But when the Lord declared him a mighty warrior, Gideon made a choice. He chose to be a victor, not a victim. Following God's instructions, he became a mighty leader and eventually ruled as judge. (Judges 6-7)

Consider this...

We all have disappointments in life. Many of us have experienced unfair treatment by someone, the loss of a job or business, or even the traumatic death of someone we love. Some have experienced a serious personal illness or injury.

In every difficult circumstance, we have a choice. We can choose to be a victim, never overcoming and moving on with our lives. Or we can trust God to show us the way to victory.

Prayer

Father, I thank you that I have a choice-I don't have to be a victim in any situation if I will trust you for victory. Help me remember that even when I go through difficult situations, you are with me and want to help me find victory. I don't have to be a victim-with your help, I can be a victor and move on with my life. In Jesus' name ...

These thoughts were drawn from...

Godly Heroes: A Small Group Study of Hebrews 11 by Jimmy Ray Lee, D.Min. This guide presents a step-by-step study of Hebrews 11. It also features the profile of the characteristics of Godly heroes, written in language that relates to today's living. In this guide you will find definitions, characteristics and examples of the heroes' faith life. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups, and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.

Would you like to have these devotions appear daily on your church or ministry website? Learn More

PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to info@LivingFree.org.

Is Your Mind Stayed on God?
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You -Isaiah 26:3
Is your mind stayed on God or is it starved? Starvation of the mind, caused by neglect, is one of the chief sources of exhaustion and weakness in a servant's life. If you have never used your mind to place yourself before God, begin to do it now. There is no reason to wait for God to come to you. You must turn your thoughts and your eyes away from the face of idols and look to Him and be saved (see Isaiah 45:22 ).

Your mind is the greatest gift God has given you and it ought to be devoted entirely to Him. You should seek to be "bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ . . ." ( 2 Corinthians 10:5 ). This will be one of the greatest assets of your faith when a time of trial comes, because then your faith and the Spirit of God will work together. When you have thoughts and ideas that are worthy of credit to God, learn to compare and associate them with all that happens in nature-the rising and the setting of the sun, the shining of the moon and the stars, and the changing of the seasons. You will begin to see that your thoughts are from God as well, and your mind will no longer be at the mercy of your impulsive thinking, but will always be used in service to God.

"We have sinned with our fathers . . . [and] . . . did not remember . . ." ( Psalm 106:6-7 ). Then prod your memory and wake up immediately. Don't say to yourself, "But God is not talking to me right now." He ought to be. Remember whose you are and whom you serve. Encourage yourself to remember, and your affection for God will increase tenfold. Your mind will no longer be starved, but will be quick and enthusiastic, and your hope will be inexpressibly bright.

GOD BLESS

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals February 12, 2009

Learning From Lincoln
READ: Proverbs 3:1-8
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. -Proverbs 3:6

The day before his 52nd birthday, Abraham Lincoln left Springfield, Illinois, to become President of the United States. With the threat of civil war looming, he said goodbye to the friends and neighbors who had come to see him off. "I now leave," he told them, "not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of the Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail. Trusting in Him who can go with me, and remain with you, and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell."

Lincoln's reliance on God for guidance and strength reflects the instruction of Solomon: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths" (Prov. 3:5-6).

On this 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth, we celebrate his kindness, integrity, and courage. And we can also learn from him how to face a daunting future with confident hope in the Lord.  - David C. McCasland

Into His hands I lay the fears that haunt me,
The dread of future ills that may befall;
Into His hands I lay the doubts that taunt me,
And rest securely, trusting Him for all. -Christiansen


Living without trust in God is like driving in the fog.

They're Always Watching and Listening
By Os Hillman

"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them" (Acts 16:25-26).

It didn't take long for non-believers to realize I was different in the secular workplaces where I've worked. I didn't participate in the jokes, the dirty language, or criticism of management. I didn't judge them for their behavior because they were merely acting the way they should act as one who does not have Christ in their life. I viewed them as prisoners awaiting their salvation and that I might be the instrument to lead them to my Savior.

I would often be known as the "religious guy." It wasn't because I was particularly vocal or I tried to separate myself; it happened naturally. The Christ in me naturally made me stand out. Jesus called us to be the "salt and light" of any life situation. The secular workplace economy is contrary to the Kingdom of God economy so we should naturally stand out in any situation.

When Paul and Silas were in prison their lifestyle of worship and prayer in the midst of the horrible conditions of a dirty prison stood out in stark contrast to their circumstances. They didn't pray and sing to impress their cellmates, they simply did what was natural to them. Still, "the other prisoners were watching and listening."

No matter where you are, others are watching you to determine if your faith is real or if you're an imposter. The world is looking to discredit your faith. You are a witness always whether you choose to be or not.

"The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?'" (Acts 16:29-30). When you begin to reflect the love and power of Christ in your life you won't have to have an evangelism program to win others into the Kingdom. It will be a fruit of your life. The "fish" will actually jump into the boat!

Beware how you conduct your life today. Because the prisoners are watching and listening.

Contact Os Hillman at www.marketplaceleaders.org.


Achieving Authentic Success 6-CD Set
Achieving Authentic Success
Dr. Ron Jenson, America's Life Coach, shares over six hours of his immensely valuable insights and wisdom in this 6-CD series on Achieving Authentic Success. Each principle is unpacked to help you maximize your personal and professional opportunities so you can live a life of significance and impact. Order or Learn More 

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

Thoughts for Today

Being a self-made person is considered a good thing by many, especially in the United States. We tend to have an "I can do it myself" mentality. We somehow  feel we haven't really succeeded if we've asked for help. However, godly heroes recognize that they have weaknesses and are willing to accept their dependence on God and allow him to turn weaknesses into strengths.

When God called Moses to lead the Hebrew people out of Egypt, Moses argued that he had never been eloquent and was slow of speech and tongue. But God wasn't concerned about these weaknesses. He wasn't depending on Moses' strength-he was looking for his obedience.

Moses did choose to obey God and to trust him. God made him a great leader of millions of people. Moses' slowness of speech became his strength because it helped him know that he couldn't begin to do what God was calling him to do on his own-he had to rely on God. And God's strength is unlimited. (Judges 6-7)

Godly heroes turn weaknesses into strengths.

Consider this...

Has God called you to do something that seems impossible because of your weaknesses? You feel as though you are not smart enough .. or experienced enough ... or strong enough? Good! Now you know that you will have to depend on God to get the job done.

Prayer

Lord, I feel so inadequate to do what you've led me to do. I thank you for helping me recognize that I can't do it on my own. I know that as I stop worrying about my inadequacies and start depending on your strengths ... the job will get done. In Jesus' name ...

These thoughts were drawn from...

Godly Heroes: A Small Group Study of Hebrews 11 by Jimmy Ray Lee, D.Min. This guide presents a step-by-step study of Hebrews 11. It also features the profile of the characteristics of Godly heroes, written in language that relates to today's living. In this guide you will find definitions, characteristics and examples of the heroes' faith life. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups, and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.

Would you like to have these devotions appear daily on your church or ministry website? Learn More

 
PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to info@LivingFree.org.

Are You Listening to God?
READ:
They said to Moses, 'You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die' ` -Exodus 20:19
We don't consciously and deliberately disobey God- we simply don't listen to Him. God has given His commands to us, but we pay no attention to them- not because of willful disobedience, but because we do not truly love and respect Him. "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15). Once we realize we have constantly been showing disrespect to God, we will be filled with shame and humiliation for ignoring Him.

"You speak with us, . . . but let not God speak with us . . . ." We show how little love we have for God by preferring to listen to His servants rather than to Him. We like to listen to personal testimonies, but we don't want God Himself to speak to us. Why are we so terrified for God to speak to us? It is because we know that when God speaks we must either do what He asks or tell Him we will not obey. But if it is simply one of God's servants speaking to us, we feel obedience is optional, not imperative. We respond by saying, "Well, that's only your own idea, even though I don't deny that what you said is probably God's truth."

Am I constantly humiliating God by ignoring Him, while He lovingly continues to treat me as His child? Once I finally do hear Him, the humiliation I have heaped on Him returns to me. My response then becomes, "Lord, why was I so insensitive and obstinate?" This is always the result once we hear God. But our real delight in finally hearing Him is tempered with the shame we feel for having taken so long to do so.

GOD BLESS

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals February 13, 2009

Enduring Love
READ: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8
[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. -1 Corinthians 13:7

Like many people, I enjoy the Google homepage artwork that appears on special days and holidays. Last Valentine's Day, the artistic logo showed an older couple-a man with a cane and a white-haired woman-walking hand in hand as the woman held two heart-shaped balloons. It was a beautiful reminder that while our culture glorifies youthful romance, true love has many stages during our journey through life.

Paul's great essay in 1 Corinthians 13 celebrates the depth and tenacity of the love that carries us beyond self-interest and mere affection. "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails" (vv.4-8).

Brian Wren has captured this reality in his moving hymn, "When Love Is Found":

When love is tried as loved ones change,
Hold still to hope though all seems strange,
Till ease returns, and love grows wise
Through listening ears and opened eyes.
© Hope Publishing Co.

When our commitments are tested in the fires of life, no matter what difficulties we face, may God grant us a greater experience of His enduring love and the grace to demonstrate it each day.  - David C. McCasland

God's love is a fabric that never fades, no matter how often it is washed in the waters of adversity.

Microsoft Mary
By Os Hillman

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight" (Prov 3:5- 6).

I travel a lot. One of the greatest modern-day inventions I've appreciated most is the GPS system for cars. GPS stands for Global Positioning System, a navigational system tied to a satellite that can pinpoint your location and chart directions to any destination you select. I remember a time when my wife Angie and I used one of these when we were in Germany and Switzerland. We were able to program the GPS in English. We began our drive to our destination when a pleasant voice came on: "Turn left in 200 yards." We called our invisible road counselor, Microsoft Mary.

Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help you and I navigate through life. "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come" (John 16:13-14).

A story is told years ago about the Chinese underground church having to rely on the Holy Spirit to tell them when and where they were to meet. It was too dangerous to announce public meetings. So, each member had to ask the Holy Spirit the time and place. They would all arrive at the same place at the same time.

Is the Holy Spirit active in your work life? Are you asking for His direction to succeed in your work? Microsoft Mary may help us navigate traffic, but Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help us navigate life. Ask Him to guide you today.

Contact Os Hillman at www.marketplaceleaders.org.


Achieving Authentic Success 6-CD Set
Achieving Authentic Success
Dr. Ron Jenson, America's Life Coach, shares over six hours of his immensely valuable insights and wisdom in this 6-CD series on Achieving Authentic Success. Each principle is unpacked to help you maximize your personal and professional opportunities so you can live a life of significance and impact. Order or Learn More 

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture

"Love the LORD your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul." Joshua 22:5 NLT

Thoughts for Today

If you walk together with another person, you probably have a good relationship with him or her. To walk with a person every day-whether in the mall, around a track or in your neighborhood-means that you enjoy each other's company. Walking together is a time to share and strengthen the relationship, to learn more about each other.... And so it should be in our walk with God.

The Bible tells us that Enoch was a man who walked with God. He must have developed a very close relationship with God because he didn't die-God chose to take him directly to heaven. Enoch was a man of faith-and truly a godly hero. (Genesis 5:21-24)

If he were living today, Enoch's press clippings would not be impressive. His testimony probably would not attract thousands to a citywide crusade. It is unlikely he would sign a book contract or be a TV attraction. However, as a godly hero, he did have an adventurous life. He had the best of the best-intimate fellowship with God.

Godly heroes walk with God.

Consider this...

Walking with God encompasses many things. Spending quality time with him-and enjoying that time. Talking to him, and especially listening to him. Trusting him, loving him, desiring above all else to please him.

How's your walk?

Prayer

Father, I thank you so much that I can walk with you. That you invite me to spend time with you. And yet, sometimes I neglect that wonderful opportunity. Please forgive me. Help me to be a better walking partner. In Jesus' name ...

These thoughts were drawn from...

by Jimmy Ray Lee, D.Min. This guide presents a step-by-step study of Hebrews 11. It also features the profile of the characteristics of Godly heroes, written in language that relates to today's living. In this guide you will find definitions, characteristics and examples of the heroes' faith life. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups, and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.

Would you like to have these devotions appear daily on your church or ministry website? Learn More

 
PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to info@LivingFree.org.


The Devotion of Hearing
Samuel answered, 'Speak, for Your servant hears' -1 Samuel 3:10

Just because I have listened carefully and intently to one thing from God does not mean that I will listen to everything He says. I show God my lack of love and respect for Him by the insensitivity of my heart and mind toward what He says. If I love my friend, I will instinctively understand what he wants. And Jesus said, "You are My friends . . ." ( John 15:14 ). Have I disobeyed some command of my Lord's this week? If I had realized that it was a command of Jesus, I would not have deliberately disobeyed it. But most of us show incredible disrespect to God because we don't even hear Him. He might as well never have spoken to us.

The goal of my spiritual life is such close identification with Jesus Christ that I will always hear God and know that God always hears me (see John 11:41 ). If I am united with Jesus Christ, I hear God all the time through the devotion of hearing. A flower, a tree, or a servant of God may convey God's message to me. What hinders me from hearing is my attention to other things. It is not that I don't want to hear God, but I am not devoted in the right areas of my life. I am devoted to things and even to service and my own convictions. God may say whatever He wants, but I just don't hear Him. The attitude of a child of God should always be, "Speak, for Your servant hears." If I have not developed and nurtured this devotion of hearing, I can only hear God's voice at certain times. At other times I become deaf to Him because my attention is to other things- things which I think I must do. This is not living the life of a child of God. Have you heard God's voice today?

GOD BLESS

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals February 14, 2009

Written In Red
READ: 1 John 4:7-19
God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. -1 John 4:9

My first Bible was printed mostly in black type, but some of its words were in red. It didn't take me long to discover that the ones in red had been spoken by Jesus.

More than 100 years ago, a man named Louis Klopsch published the first "red-letter" Bible. As he thought about Jesus' words in Luke 22:20, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you," he purposely used blood-red ink to call specific attention to His words.

The words of the Bible are priceless to us because they tell of the "love letter" God sent 2,000 years ago in the Person of His Son (1 John 4:10).

Jesus' purpose in coming to earth as a Man was to die, to be sacrificed, to give His life for ours. God's plan was written in red-written with "the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:19).

Those of us who have accepted God's gift of love are called to be "letters" to those who don't know Him. We are epistles of Christ "written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God" (2 Cor. 3:3).

Long before a day in February was set aside to celebrate love, the world received a love letter-and that changed everything (John 3:16).  - Cindy Hess Kasper

If you'd like to know the love of God the Father,
Come to Him through Jesus Christ, His loving Son;
He'll forgive your sins and save your soul forever,
And you'll love forevermore this faithful One. -Felten


Nothing speaks more clearly of God's love than the cross of Jesus Christ.

Walk as Jesus Did
By Os Hillman

"This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did" (1 John 2:6).

I have always found the above verse very intimidating. It says that if we are truly living in Christ, we must walk as Jesus did. How did Jesus walk? He healed the sick. He perceived the needs and situations of others supernaturally. He spoke boldly into the lives of the unsaved. He met the needs of people by leading them to the Kingdom of God. Jesus says we must walk as He did. So, I can only conclude from this verse that if we are each called to live this way, He will also equip us to live this way.

How did Jesus walk? He walked on earth as a human being, not as God, yet He was God. His miracles were done as a human being who tapped into the power of His Heavenly Father. This is why he can exhort us to live like He did not as deity, but as a human being who could appropriate all the Father had for him. This is what He means when He says "live as He lived." We are to exercise obedience and faith just as He did.

I believe we live in a day that requires more than proclamation evangelism to break through in the workplace. We live and work in a skeptical society. It takes more than reasoning to see those in the workplace come to Christ. The workplace is trained to see past phonies. So, it will require the genuine love and power of Christ to be manifested to break through to a Muslim co-worker, a power-driven executive, or a foul-mouthed construction worker.

Jesus modeled a way of reaching the lost. He did not use reasoning to convince a person to follow him. He often operated in the supernatural revelation about a need in that person's life. Such was the case of the Samaritan woman. This encounter not only led to a woman placing her faith in the Messiah, but it led to the transformation of a city.

Next time you have an encounter with an unsaved associate, find out about a need they have and ask God how you can meet it through His power.

Contact Os Hillman at www.marketplaceleaders.org.


Achieving Authentic Success 6-CD Set
Achieving Authentic Success
Dr. Ron Jenson, America's Life Coach, shares over six hours of his immensely valuable insights and wisdom in this 6-CD series on Achieving Authentic Success. Each principle is unpacked to help you maximize your personal and professional opportunities so you can live a life of significance and impact. Order or Learn More 

Triumph Over Trials

Many Christians have the erroneous belief that if they just try hard enough to be "good," then they can escape the trials of life. But the Bible teaches us something completely different: "A righteous man may have many troubles" (Psalm 34:19). However, we can find joy in the conclusion of this verse: "but the Lord delivers him from them all." No matter what we face in life, God will be there with us. Only God can turn our worst tragedies into victories.

King David of the Old Testament faced more life-changing trials than many of us will know. His life was often at risk from enemies who sought to kill him. He paid great consequences for his moral and judgment errors. He was even betrayed by a rebellious son. Yet through his example, we see how David was able to use his suffering to bring glory to God.

Read Psalm 3. During the time David wrote this, he was in hiding from his own son, Absalom, who was plotting to dethrone his father (see 2 Samuel 15). David had experienced a bitter betrayal by his own son and by some of his closest friends. His life was on the line. His heart was broken. He was struggling in his spirit as to why this was happening. David cries out, "O Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me!" (Psalm 3:1).

Have you ever been betrayed by people you loved and trusted? Sometimes the emotional and spiritual wounds made by another person can hurt far worse than any sword. One of Satan's favorite tricks is to cause dissension in our families, in our relationships, and in our churches. When we maliciously speak against another person or stir up rebellion, we become an Absalom in the household of David. 

But sometimes these personal attacks on us can be used for a greater good. If you are experiencing a trial right now, ask God to show you how He wants you to use it. Are you being disciplined for a sin in your life? Confess and repent of that sin today. Is your trial an opportunity to share your personal testimony? What may seem like a dark valley may be the open door to sharing about Christ's grace and provision in your life.

The secret of David's triumph was his trust in God: "But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. To the Lord I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill" (Psalm 3:3-4). There can be no triumph unless there is a trial. There can be no testimony unless there is a test. There can be no conquest unless there is a conflict. Many people want to be used mightily by God, yet they refuse to pay the cost. Are you willing to go through dark times so that God's kingdom may grow?

Even in the midst of suffering, David knew that God already had won the battle. His confidence in God allowed him a peaceful sleep the night before the battle. He knew that by handing over his trial to God, God would provide the victory. "I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side" (Psalm 3:5, 6).

The burden that you are carrying can be a blessing if you trust in God. He can turn your burden into victory. He can turn your trials into triumph. We can rest easy at night, knowing that our Father holds our tomorrow in His hands.

Is your trial keeping you up at night? Are you struggling with worry and anxiety? Confess your concerns and fears to God. Turn your burdens over to Him. He wants to help you overcome them. He wants to give you a great victory, but first you must put your trust in Him. When we try to face the battle on our own, we are likely to fail. But with God at the heart of our battle plan, we can succeed. Only when our trust is in God will we find peace and rest during troubled times. 

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Everybody wants to be loved by somebody... But what really is true love? Michael Youssef explores this topic in our free resource this month-"The Truth About Love." Download it today.

By Passionately Proclaiming Uncompromising Truth, Leading The Way is revolutionizing lives at home and around the world. Discover more at www.leadingtheway.org.

The Discipline of Hearing
Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops -Matthew 10:27

Sometimes God puts us through the experience and discipline of darkness to teach us to hear and obey Him. Song birds are taught to sing in the dark, and God puts us into "the shadow of His hand" until we learn to hear Him (Isaiah 49:2 ). "Whatever I tell you in the dark. . ."- pay attention when God puts you into darkness, and keep your mouth closed while you are there. Are you in the dark right now in your circumstances, or in your life with God? If so, then remain quiet. If you open your mouth in the dark, you will speak while in the wrong mood- darkness is the time to listen. Don't talk to other people about it; don't read books to find out the reason for the darkness; just listen and obey. If you talk to other people, you cannot hear what God is saying. When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message for someone else once you are back in the light.

After every time of darkness, we should experience a mixture of delight and humiliation. If there is only delight, I question whether we have really heard God at all. We should experience delight for having heard God speak, but mostly humiliation for having taken so long to hear Him! Then we will exclaim, "How slow I have been to listen and understand what God has been telling me!" And yet God has been saying it for days and even weeks. But once you hear Him, He gives you the gift of humiliation, which brings a softness of heart- a gift that will always cause you to listen to God now.

GOD BLESS

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals February 15, 2009

Drift
READ: Hebrews 2:1-9
We must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. -Hebrews 2:1

In the 1923 silent movie Our Hospitality, comedian and acrobat Buster Keaton performed a daring stunt near a waterfall. A retaining line, called a "holdback" cable, hidden in the water and attached to him, kept him from being carried over the falls.

During filming, the cable broke, and Keaton was swept toward the falls. He managed to grab an overhanging branch, which he clung to until the crew could rescue him. The dramatic scene appears in the finished film.

Drifting into unintended hazards can make for exciting film footage. In real life, however, dangers of this kind are usually marked with warning signs to prevent people from venturing into harm's way.

Similarly, the Bible has provided us with warning signs about drifting from the safety of God's Word. "Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away" (Heb. 2:1).

When we don't cling to God's Word through study and reflection, it's easy to drift. Like a swift stream, the attractions of this fallen world draw us toward sin. But as we meditate on Scripture and seek the Holy Spirit's guidance, we learn the reality of our spiritual anchor and are kept secure-even in the dangers of the world's current.  - Dennis Fisher

The Bible stands like a rock undaunted
'Mid the raging storms of time;
Its pages burn with the truth eternal,
And they glow with a light sublime. -Lillenas
© Renewal 1945 Haldor Lillenas.


The compass of God's Word will keep you from spiritual shipwreck.

Fulfilling Your Purpose
By Os Hillman

"O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD" (Ps 139:1-4).

Your purpose in life is chosen by God. It is not negotiable. It is like calling water wet-there is no changing that fact, and there's no changing God's purpose for your life. While you may not fulfill the purpose for which you were made, you still have a purpose that God intends for you to fulfill. This is your blueprint from God. In the same way that He had a specific purpose in mind for Jesus when He sent Him to the earth, He has a specific purpose in mind for your life.

This doesn't mean, however, that there is one highly specific niche for you to fill and that if you miss it, too bad. It is my belief that you can achieve your purpose in many different and creative ways. This should take the pressure off. You won't throw your entire life off course by choosing the wrong college, job or mate. God is much bigger than any miscalculation or disobedience on your part. "The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me" (Ps. 138:. Isn't that comforting to know?

Defining your purpose will help you to determine the activities that you should be involved in. Like Jesus, you should not involve yourself in activities that contradict His purpose for your existence. Jesus' purpose was to do the will of the Father and become the salvation for mankind.

Each of us must ask why we are involved in an activity. Is it a God-activity, or just a good activity? Remember, Jesus only did something if He saw the Father doing it, and He was able to see what His Father was doing because of His intimate relationship with Him.

Today, take steps to insure you are aligned with your purpose.

Contact Os Hillman at www.marketplaceleaders.org.


Handbook to Renewal
Set Your Mind on Biblical Truth
Designed to renew your mind on a daily basis, this beautiful leather-bound handbook is most effective when used just before going to sleep so that you set your mind on biblical truth for the rest of the night. Each night, the readings are structured around five kinds of affirmations from Scripture: The Attributes of God, The Works of God, My Relationship to God, The Character I Want to Cultivate, and My Relationship to Others. Order 

It's Going to Be Okay
by Max Lucado

Bill Tucker was sixteen years old when his dad suffered a health crisis and consequently had to leave his business. Even after Mr. Tucker regained his health, the Tucker family struggled financially, barely getting by.

Mr. Tucker, an entrepreneurial sort, came up with an idea. He won the bid to reupholster the chairs at the local movie theater. This stunned his family. He had never stitched a seat. He didn't even own a sewing apparatus. Still, he found someone to teach him the skill and located an industrial-strength machine. The family scraped together every cent they had to buy it. They drained savings accounts and dug coins out of the sofa. Finally, they had enough.

It was a fine day when Bill road with his dad to pick up the equipment. Bill remembers a jovial, hour-long trip discussing the bright horizons this new opportunity afforded them. They loaded the machine in the back of their truck and secured it right behind the cab. Mr. Tucker then invited his son to drive home. I'll let Bill tell you what happened next:

"As we were driving along, we were excited, and I, like any sixteen-year-old driver, was probably not paying enough attention to my speed. Just as we were turning on the cloverleaf to get on the expressway, I will never ever, ever forget watching that sewing machine, which was already top-heavy, begin to tip. I slammed on the brakes, but it was too late. I saw it go over the side. I jumped out and ran around the back of the truck. As I rounded the corner, I saw our hope and our dream lying on its side in pieces. And then I saw my dad just looking. All of his risk and all of his endeavor and all of his struggling and all of his dream, all of his hope to take care of his family was lying there, shattered.

"You know what comes next don't you? 'Stupid, punk kid driving too fast, not paying attention, ruined the family by taking away our livelihood.' But that's not what he said. He looked right at me. 'Oh, Bill, I am so sorry.' And he walked over, put his arms around me, and said, 'Son, this is going to be okay.'

God is whispering the same to you. Those are his arms you feel. Trust him. That is his voice you hear. Believe him. Allow the only decision maker in the universe to comfort you. Life at times appears to fall to pieces, seem irreparable. But it's going to be okay. How can you know? Because God so loved the world. If God can make a billion galaxies, can't he make good out of our bad and sense out of our faltering lives? Of course he can. He is God.

From 3:16, The Numbers of Hope
Copyright (W Publishing Group, 2007) Max Lucado

"Am I My Brother's Keeper?"
None of us lives to himself . . . -Romans 14:7
Has it ever dawned on you that you are responsible spiritually to God for other people? For instance, if I allow any turning away from God in my private life, everyone around me suffers. We "sit together in the heavenly places . . ." ( Ephesians 2:6 ). "If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it . . ." ( 1 Corinthians 12:26 ). If you allow physical selfishness, mental carelessness, moral insensitivity, or spiritual weakness, everyone in contact with you will suffer. But you ask, "Who is sufficient to be able to live up to such a lofty standard?" "Our sufficiency is from God . . ." and God alone (2 Corinthians 3:5 ).

"You shall be witnesses to Me . . ." ( Acts 1:8 ). How many of us are willing to spend every bit of our nervous, mental, moral, and spiritual energy for Jesus Christ? That is what God means when He uses the word witness. But it takes time, so be patient with yourself. Why has God left us on the earth? Is it simply to be saved and sanctified? No, it is to be at work in service to Him. Am I willing to be broken bread and poured-out wine for Him? Am I willing to be of no value to this age or this life except for one purpose and one alone- to be used to disciple men and women to the Lord Jesus Christ. My life of service to God is the way I say "thank you" to Him for His inexpressibly wonderful salvation. Remember, it is quite possible for God to set any of us aside if we refuse to be of service to Him- ". . . lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified" ( 1 Corinthians 9:27 ).

GOD BLESS

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals February 16, 2009

The Answers
READ: 1 John 3:1-9
Beloved, now we are children of God. -1 John 3:2

The story is told that the philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) was sauntering through Berlin's famous Tiergarden one day, mentally probing the questions of origin and destiny that had been constantly perplexing him: Who am I? Where am I going?

A park-keeper, closely observing the shabbily dressed philosopher as he walked slowly with head bowed, suspected that Schopenhauer was a tramp. So he walked up to the philosopher and demanded, "Who are you? Where are you going?" With a pained expression, Schopenhauer replied, "I don't know. I wish somebody could tell me."

Are you ever perplexed by those same questions? Who am I? Where am I going? What a comfort it is to have God's authoritative answers in the Bible. Who are we? In 1 John 3, John calls his readers "children of God" (v.2). We become His children by receiving Jesus as our Savior from sin (John 1:12). And where are we going? John 14:1-6 tells us that one day He will receive us into a home He is preparing in heaven.

Our Maker is not only the Author of science and history, but He writes the story of every member of Adam's family-yours and mine. We can trust His answers.  - Vernon C. Grounds

Open my ears, that I may hear
Voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wave-notes fall on my ear,
Everything false will disappear. -Scott

When you know Jesus, you know who you are and where you're going.

When Satan Attacks Your Destiny
By Os Hillman

"When the Philistines heard that David had been crowned king of Israel, they tried to capture him; but David was told that they were coming and went into the stronghold. The Philistines arrived and spread out across the valley of Rephaim. Then David asked the Lord, 'Shall I go out and fight against them? Will you defeat them for me?'" (2 Sam 5:17-19).

When you are about to enter your destiny, there is always opposition from Satan designed to prevent you from fulfilling your destiny.
When Jesus was born, Herod tried to kill him. When Jesus was baptized and fasted 40 days, Satan came to tempt Him in an effort to derail his destiny. When David had been anointed king over Israel, God's destiny had been revealed for all to see-even Satan. So, Satan raised up the Philistines to try and kill David's destiny.

However, in response, we see David do two things. First, he retreats to his stronghold. It is a place of protection. It is a quiet place. Second, he inquires of God. It is here that he inquires of God for the strategy to defeat his enemy. God reveals it to him and he goes on to defeat the Philistines. In fact, David NEVER lost a battle because he learned to inquire of God for the strategy to defeat his enemies.

Do you know God's intended destiny for your life? Beware of Satan's strategy to attack you in the place of your destiny. His desire is to take you off this divine path.

We must follow David's example in response to the enemy of our souls. We must retreat to our stronghold, seek the Lord, and listen for His answer. Then, we will fulfill the purpose for which God created us.

Contact Os Hillman at www.marketplaceleaders.org.


Handbook to Renewal
Set Your Mind on Biblical Truth
Designed to renew your mind on a daily basis, this beautiful leather-bound handbook is most effective when used just before going to sleep so that you set your mind on biblical truth for the rest of the night. Each night, the readings are structured around five kinds of affirmations from Scripture: The Attributes of God, The Works of God, My Relationship to God, The Character I Want to Cultivate, and My Relationship to Others.   

What Will Last Forever?

Everything seems so fragile these days. News gets old in

seconds, emails in hours, movies in days, electronic gadgets in

weeks, cars in months, and buildings in years. Nothing seems enduring

in our world. We live more and more in a world that is temporary.

From the delete button on the email screen to the trash can on our

digital cameras-everything seems to be short lived. All around us we

see decay, even on the cosmic level everything is headed toward what

physicists call 'heat death'.

WHAT LASTS FOREVER?

When we get to the end of everything--what is left? In other

words, what will last forever? The Bible ends with the book called

Revelation. The last chapter is Revelation 22, and that last chapter

ends with only three things left in eternity that really matter: God,

Heaven and one more element-servants serving God.

Have you paused to notice who are those surrounding God's

Throne? Revelation 22:3 And there shall be no more curse, but

the Throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants

shall serve Him. NKJV Servants are those who choose to discipline

themselves to serve God. All that lasts are God and those who

serve Him; that is what God's Word is all about. If we are to someday

spend eternity serving God, how are we doing at disciplining

ourselves to be His good, faithful, and godly servants? That is the

question answered in these pages. May we all seek and receive His

"well done" when Christ examines and measures our lives.

Each one's work will become clear; for the Day will

declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the

fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is

-1 Corinthians 3:13


We are not our own.As a redeemed child of God we have a

life to live that ends with a personal examination by the One we

love, the One who bought us, and the only One who really matters-

Jesus Christ our Lord. How we've used our time on Earth will one

day be tested by fire-the fire of Christ's presence that will burn away

everything we did which wasn't pleasing to Him.

How can we live in a way that truly pleases the Lord? Is it something

we have to guess about or wonder whether we are doing what

He desires?

The description of what lasts and pleases Him is in God's Word. To

glorify Christ to the maximum by how we live takes choosing to stay

in step with His plan. That plan, His Word, is intended by God to fill

our lives. Hence, a Word filled life won't be burned up, which is the

only way to not waste the life He has given each of us to use for His

glory. If I could describe the best life possible-a life of peace, serenity,

security, and joy-it would be the Word filled life!

A Word Filled

Life Is the Only

Way to Not

Waste Your Life

Discipline Yourself For Godliness

God's Word contains clear guidelines for how to have an exciting

lifetime filled with confidence, purpose, direction, and hope. The

Scriptures instruct us on how to have a joyous Word filled marriage

and the most harmonious and loving family possible-a Word filled

family! And a Word filled work life can be the most satisfying, purposeful,

and rewarding employment for an entire lifetime!

God wants to greatly bless us through the Word filled life and into

senior citizenship! Then, as we face that appointment with Christ to

show what we have done with our lives (2 Corinthians 5:10), we can

enter His presence with joy-thrilled to be with the One who loved

us, and whom we love supremely.

No matter who you are or where you are in life, your age or what

your past might be, God has described His perfect plan for you in the

Scriptures. The Lord of heaven and earth has much to say about the

optimal operating range we should live within, and has instilled in

each of us every needed option to operate and fulfill His plans.

We find the details on how to do all those things in God's Word.

If you want to live life the way God says it should be-the best life

possible-live a Word filled life!

In the New Testament, Christ's recorded words during His ministry

on earth are highlighted in what we call a "red letter edition" Bible.

To me, it is astounding to read these first words Jesus said after He

was introduced publicly at His baptism:

... "It is written, 'Man shall not live [exist, continue, go on] by

bread alone [eating our physical food], but by every word that proceeds

from the mouth of God' " (Matthew 4:4).

In other words, Jesus was saying, "It is not enough just to eat and

exist and have physical life. If you want to have a full and abundant

life in your youth, marriage, family, work, and senior years, as I

designed it to be, you must allow My every Word to fill your life!"

For more from Discover the Book Ministries, please visit  discoverthebook.org .
 
The Inspiration of Spiritual Initiative
Arise from the dead . . . -Ephesians 5:14
Not all initiative, the willingness to take the first step, is inspired by God. Someone may say to you, "Get up and get going! Take your reluctance by the throat and throw it overboard- just do what needs to be done!" That is what we mean by ordinary human initiative. But when the Spirit of God comes to us and says, in effect, "Get up and get going," suddenly we find that the initiative is inspired.

We all have many dreams and aspirations when we are young, but sooner or later we realize we have no power to accomplish them. We cannot do the things we long to do, so our tendency is to think of our dreams and aspirations as dead. But God comes and says to us, "Arise from the dead . . . ." When God sends His inspiration, it comes to us with such miraculous power that we are able to "arise from the dead" and do the impossible. The remarkable thing about spiritual initiative is that the life and power comes after we "get up and get going." God does not give us overcoming life- He gives us life as we overcome. When the inspiration of God comes, and He says, "Arise from the dead . . . ," we have to get ourselves up; God will not lift us up. Our Lord said to the man with the withered hand, "Stretch out your hand" (Matthew 12:13 ). As soon as the man did so, his hand was healed. But he had to take the initiative. If we will take the initiative to overcome, we will find that we have the inspiration of God, because He immediately gives us the power of life.

GOD BLESS

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals February 17, 2009

Perhaps Today
READ: Matthew 24:36-46
You also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. -Matthew 24:44

A year ago, I read an article saying that millions of TV sets in the United States would stop working today unless they were able to receive digital signals. Notices appeared in electronics stores, and the government even offered a free $40 coupon toward the purchase of a converter box.

I suspect that most people took the necessary steps to make sure their TV set would work when they turned it on today. We usually respond well to warnings tied to specific dates, but often fail to prepare for an event that will come "some day."

When the disciples asked Jesus about the date of His return (Matt. 24:3), He told them that only God the Father knows: "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only" (v.36). Then He urged them to be prepared so that they would not be taken by surprise. "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (v.44).

We don't know when Jesus will return; He may come at any time. Dr. M. R. De Haan, founder of RBC Ministries, kept a two-word motto in his office: "Perhaps Today."

When we make our daily plans, are we aware that Christ may return? Are we prepared to meet Him?  - David C. McCasland

The darkness deepens! Yes, but dawn is nearer!
The Lord from heaven may soon be on His way;
The "blessed hope" in these dark days grows dearer,
Our Savior Christ will come-perhaps today! -Smith


If Christ comes today, will you be ready to meet Him?

When Satan Attacks Your Destiny
By Os Hillman

"LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance" (Ps 16:5-6).

Most of us will have many jobs over our lifetime. As I look back over my past, I've had quite a varied history of jobs that included being a waiter, retail clerk, golf pro, advertising sales executive, ad agency executive, and ad agency owner. Today, I am a writer and lead an international workplace ministry. All of these jobs were important because they gave me a level of experience from which I now express God's ministry. I am able to relate to those in the workplace because of my varied work experience throughout my career.

With each of our jobs, God is building something in us that will be used for His purposes now and in the future. Oswald Chambers says "In the beginning we do not train for God, we train for work, for our own aims; but as we go on with God we lose all our own aims and are trained into God's purpose. Unless practical work is appointed by God, it will prove a curse."

Jesus was prepared for His ultimate calling by working with His father in his carpentry shop until He was thirty years old. More than 54% of Jesus' teaching arose out of issues in daily life experience. Joseph was prepared to be head of a nation by serving prison time and being a slave in Potiphar's house. Moses was prepared to lead a nation out of slavery by serving in Pharoah's house and later working forty years as a shepherd.

Do not despise the small jobs - for they are stepping stones to a greater purpose in God's plan for your life and for God's preparation for your ultimate destiny. Some of these jobs are necessary for the message He is forming in you.

Pray that God accomplishes His intended outcome in you through the work you are doing today.

Contact Os Hillman at www.marketplaceleaders.org.

Handbook to Renewal
Set Your Mind on Biblical Truth
Designed to renew your mind on a daily basis, this beautiful leather-bound handbook is most effective when used just before going to sleep so that you set your mind on biblical truth for the rest of the night. Each night, the readings are structured around five kinds of affirmations from Scripture: The Attributes of God, The Works of God, My Relationship to God, The Character I Want to Cultivate, and My Relationship to Others. Order This Resource

Overrated

We read in Proverbs 23:4,

Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease!

First, I want you to notice that this verse does not say don't work.  And it does not say don't work hard.  It says don't overwork.

There are some people in God's family who are not led, they are driven.  They are so focused on reaching their goals and achieving whatever level of success they are going after, that they are making a lot of sacrifices along the way.

But they are making the wrong sacrifices.  They are sacrificing their marriage and they are sacrificing their relationship with their kids.  Why?  Because they overwork.  And, friend, that is not healthy.

In fact, I would say that overworking is as unhealthy as not working.  You miss out on the grand things in life, the important things in life.  With some people, even their relationship with God gets squeezed out because they overwork.

You need to be motivated; you need to work hard; but you don't want to overdo it to the point that you don't have time for your children.  You don't want to work so hard that you don't have time for your spouse.  And you don't want to so overwork that you don't have time for your God. 

You are missing life if you are just after possessions, and you are sacrificing the more important things along the way.

How does your work life measure up today?  Are you overworking at the expense of your marriage, your family, and your relationship with God?  If so, determine today to get your life back in balance.

Overworking is overrated! 

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God

Taking the Initiative Against Depression

Arise and eat -1 Kings 19:5

The angel in this passage did not give Elijah a vision, or explain the Scriptures to him, or do anything remarkable. He simply told Elijah to do a very ordinary thing, that is, to get up and eat. If we were never depressed, we would not be alive- only material things don't suffer depression. If human beings were not capable of depression, we would have no capacity for happiness and exaltation. There are things in life that are designed to depress us; for example, things that are associated with death. Whenever you examine yourself, always take into account your capacity for depression.

When the Spirit of God comes to us, He does not give us glorious visions, but He tells us to do the most ordinary things imaginable. Depression tends to turn us away from the everyday things of God's creation. But whenever God steps in, His inspiration is to do the most natural, simple things-things we would never have imagined God was in, but as we do them we find Him there. The inspiration that comes to us in this way is an initiative against depression. But we must take the first step and do it in the inspiration of God. If, however, we do something simply to overcome our depression, we will only deepen it. But when the Spirit of God leads us instinctively to do something, the moment we do it the depression is gone. As soon as we arise and obey, we enter a higher plane of life.

GOD BLESS

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals February 18, 2009

Making Melody
READ: Psalm 126
Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. -Ephesians 5:19

Do you know why bees hum? It's because they can't remember the words!

Ironically, that old joke reminds me of a serious story I read about a man awaiting heart bypass surgery. He was aware that people die during surgery. As he thought about all that could go wrong, he felt very much alone.

Then an orderly walked into his room to take him to surgery. As the young man began to push his gurney along the corridor, the patient heard him humming an ancient Irish hymn, "Be Thou My Vision." It prompted his memories of lush green fields and the ancient stone ruins of Ireland, the land of his birth. The hymn flooded his soul like a fresh breath of home. When the orderly finished with that song, he hummed Horatio Spafford's hymn, "It Is Well With My Soul."

When they stopped outside the surgical suite, the man thanked him for the hymns. "God has used you this day," he said, "to remove my fears and restore my soul." "How so?" the orderly asked in surprise. "Your 'hums' brought God to me," the man replied.

"The Lord has done great things for us" (Ps. 126:3). He has filled our heart with song. He may even use our "hums" to restore someone's soul.  - David H. Roper

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart-
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art;
Thou my best thought, by day or by night-
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light. -Irish hymn
© Chatto and Windus, Ltd., London.


Praise flows freely from the choir of the redeemed.

Prayerfully Arranged Marriage
By Os Hillman

"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16).

James Rutz, author of MegaShift, tells a wonderful story of God's supernatural hand in answering prayer.

"I have a good friend named Barclay Tait who sells vacation real estate in Niceville, Florida. Back in 1977, he was a 36-year-old Florida basketball coach. That summer, he decided to hitch-hike to a Christian conference in Front Royal, Virginia. Arriving four days early, he went to a nearby forest and pitched his tent by a stream. On the last day, a tall, thin hiker with a notebook under his arm suddenly appeared, startling him as he read his Bible. Barclay explained that he came out there to fast and meditate.

Dave, the hiker, replied, "Well, I'm an intercessor. What would you like me to pray for?"

Feeling somewhat overwhelmed, Barclay said, "Uh, frankly, I'd like prayer for a wife." The man wrote the request in his notebook and walked on.

By 1988, Barclay, now married to Sherry, has been divinely guided to move to Asheville, North Carolina. A chance encounter in the Holiday Inn parking lot led to an invitation to join a gathering of a Christian group outside of town. Arriving just before the 7:00 P.M. meeting, the host walks in from the kitchen and stops dead in his tracks. "I know you!" he exclaims, pointing his finger. "You're Barclay Tait!" Barclay draws a blank.

"Just a minute. I have something I want to show you," the host announces. He scampers upstairs, leaving the puzzled Taits standing in the middle of the suddenly hushed room. In a moment the host reappeared with a well-worn ledger book. "See here? This is where I wrote your prayer request in column one when I met you in Front Royal in 1977: 'Barclay Tait: God's choice for a wife.'" Barclay looked down at the journal entry. It was the most detailed, methodical prayer journal he'd ever seen.

"I prayed for you for seven years," proclaims Dave. "Then in the middle of the night on December 30, 1984, God woke me up out of a sound sleep and said, 'Write in your journal, "Prayer answered." So I did. See? Here in column two, "Prayer answered.'"

Barclay and Sherry look at each other with their mouths open. They sat down, and their eyes fill with tears. Quietly, Barclay tells Dave, "That was the day we were married."

Contact Os Hillman at www.marketplaceleaders.org.


Handbook to Renewal
Set Your Mind on Biblical Truth
Designed to renew your mind on a daily basis, this beautiful leather-bound handbook is most effective when used just before going to sleep so that you set your mind on biblical truth for the rest of the night. Each night, the readings are structured around five kinds of affirmations from Scripture: The Attributes of God, The Works of God, My Relationship to God, The Character I Want to Cultivate, and My Relationship to Others. Order This 

Only Temporary

In our last devotional, we looked at Proverbs 23:4.  Today I want us to look at the next verse.  I will bet you can relate to it.  Verse 5 says,

Will you set your eyes on that which is not?  For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven.

Does it ever seem to you that your money has wings?  That it just flies off more quickly than you would have ever imagined?!

Money can be very temporary, very transitory in nature.  Proverbs 27:24 reinforces that truth when it tells us,

For riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations.

You need to understand that wealth is temporary just like our time here is temporary.  What are the implications for how we live our lives?  As believers, it is so important for us to have a pilgrim mindset and realize that we are just passing through.

This world is not our home.  This life is a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.  If you begin to think that somehow things are permanent, and you plan as if it is all permanent, you are going to get off course in your life with God.

Moses is a great example of someone who made a choice to live life with the right priorities.  You can read about it in Hebrews 11.  In that chapter, Moses chose to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than to enjoy all the riches of Egypt.

Moses had everything at his fingertips, but he made the right choice.  He said, "You know what?  There are more important things.  My priorities are different than this."  And his lifestyle changed pretty radically in a hurry.

But looking back, it's obvious that Moses made the right choice isn't it?  He changed the world and right now he is in heaven enjoying the presence of God. 

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God

Taking the Initiative Against Despair
Oswald Chambers

Rise, let us be going -Matthew 26:46

In the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciples went to sleep when they should have stayed awake, and once they realized what they had done it produced despair. The sense of having done something irreversible tends to make us despair. We say, "Well, it's all over and ruined now; what's the point in trying anymore." If we think this kind of despair is an exception, we are mistaken. It is a very ordinary human experience. Whenever we realize we have not taken advantage of a magnificent opportunity, we are apt to sink into despair. But Jesus comes and lovingly says to us, in essence, "Sleep on now. That opportunity is lost forever and you can't change that. But get up, and let's go on to the next thing." In other words, let the past sleep, but let it sleep in the sweet embrace of Christ, and let us go on into the invincible future with Him.

There will be experiences like this in each of our lives. We will have times of despair caused by real events in our lives, and we will be unable to lift ourselves out of them. The disciples, in this instance, had done a downright unthinkable thing- they had gone to sleep instead of watching with Jesus. But our Lord came to them taking the spiritual initiative against their despair and said, in effect, "Get up, and do the next thing." If we are inspired by God, what is the next thing? It is to trust Him absolutely and to pray on the basis of His redemption.

Never let the sense of past failure defeat your next step.

GOD BLESS

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals February 19, 2009

Celebrate Winter
READ: Psalm 42
Why are you cast down, O my soul? . . . Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance. -Psalm 42:5

I love living where there are four seasons. But even though I love settling down with a good book by a crackling fire when it's snowing, I must admit that my love for the seasons grows a little dim when the long gray days of winter drone on into February.

Yet regardless of the weather, there is always something special about winter: Christmas! Thankfully, long after the decorations are down, the reality of Christmas still lifts my spirits no matter what's happening.

If it weren't for the reality of Christ's birth, not only would winter be dark and dreary, but our hearts would be bleak and have nothing to hope for. No hope for the freedom from guilt and judgment. No hope of His reassuring and strengthening presence through dark and difficult times. No hope for a future secured in heaven.

In the winter of a troubled life, the psalmist asked, "Why are you cast down, O my soul?" The remedy was clear: "Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance" (Ps. 42:5).

In C. S. Lewis' tales of Narnia, Mr. Tumnus complains that in Narnia it is "always winter and never Christmas." But for those of us who know the God who made the seasons, it is always Christmas in our hearts!  - Joe Stowell

When our lives are heavy laden,
Cold and bleak as winter long,
Stir the embers in our hearts, Lord;
Make Your flame burn bright and strong. -Kieda


Let the reality of Christmas chase away the blahs of winter.

Her First Car
By Os Hillman

"Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him" (1 Samuel 3:7).

Charis, my sixteen-year-old daughter at the time, was now driving age. She had saved her hard-earned money to match her father's contribution to buy her first car. It was time to begin the hunt. I told her that we needed to pray for God to lead us to that perfect car. She was excited about the possibilities.

I began combing the newspaper and internet to find the right car. We prayed we would find the right car, even in the gray or silver color and model that she wanted. Finally, after several weeks, she got discouraged and began to tear up, "We will never find a car for this price." I told her the car was out there, but it was not God's time yet. We had to be patient to allow God to provide in His time, not ours. This didn't go over well with a teenager.

Finally, one day I came upon a car that seemed like it fit our criteria. I called the owner. The parents of the boy who owned it answered the call and gave me more information. I liked the parents right away. They had a nice "spirit" about them. We drove over to the house and there in the front yard was a silver sports car - the model she had been looking for, complete with a fantastic stereo and speaker system. We noticed a small fish symbol on the back bumper, which indicated the owner may have been a Christian. "These people appear to be believers!" I exclaimed to my daughter.

We met them and talked about price. It was a little higher than our budget. We asked if they could meet our price. They did. My daughter had her new car with a personal imprint from God to show my daughter that He was the source of the new car.

One of the most important roles you and I have as parents is to transfer our faith to our children. There comes a time when our children need to take ownership of their own faith in the Lord, rather than living off mom or dad's faith. Today, consider how to pass your faith to your children.

Contact Os Hillman at www.marketplaceleaders.org.

Handbook to Renewal
Set Your Mind on Biblical Truth
Designed to renew your mind on a daily basis, this beautiful leather-bound handbook is most effective when used just before going to sleep so that you set your mind on biblical truth for the rest of the night. Each night, the readings are structured around five kinds of affirmations from Scripture: The Attributes of God, The Works of God, My Relationship to God, The Character I Want to Cultivate, and My Relationship to Others. Order 

Untrustworthy

Proverbs 11:28 uncovers a powerful truth,

He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.

Solomon is giving us an important warning:  He who trusts in his riches will fall.  Why does he tell us this?  Because it is our natural tendency, when prosperity comes, to trust in that prosperity and to have that become our source of security.

As Psalm 62:10 says, If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them. There is a tendency in every human heart to do just that, and that is why God warns us.  If the blessing comes, if prosperity comes, if you achieve a degree of success, do not set your heart on the wealth.

Instead, make sure your trust remains in God because riches are not trustworthy.  In fact, if you trust in your wealth, you will fall!

The New Testament echoes this same truth in 1 Timothy 6:17.  In this passage, Paul is writing to his son in the faith, Timothy.  He is giving him some instructions to pass along to other believers,

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

Like Solomon, Paul is warning us that riches are uncertain.  Do not put your trust in them.  Instead, make sure your trust is in God.  If riches increase, do not set your heart on them.  And I like the last part.  He said to put your trust in God, Who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

Where is your trust today?  Are you trusting in your money and wealth?  Or is the object of your trust God?  I hope you will answer honestly.  If you find yourself trusting in riches, just remember, they are untrustworthy! 

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God

Taking the Initiative Against Drudgery

Arise, shine . . . -Isaiah 60:1

When it comes to taking the initiative against drudgery, we have to take the first step as though there were no God. There is no point in waiting for God to help us- He will not. But once we arise, immediately we find He is there. Whenever God gives us His inspiration, suddenly taking the initiative becomes a moral issue- a matter of obedience. Then we must act to be obedient and not continue to lie down doing nothing. If we will arise and shine, drudgery will be divinely transformed.

Drudgery is one of the finest tests to determine the genuineness of our character. Drudgery is work that is far removed from anything we think of as ideal work. It is the utterly hard, menial, tiresome, and dirty work. And when we experience it, our spirituality is instantly tested and we will know whether or not we are spiritually genuine. Read John 13. In this chapter, we see the Incarnate God performing the greatest example of drudgery- washing fishermen's feet. He then says to them, "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet" (John 13:14 ). The inspiration of God is required if drudgery is to shine with the light of God upon it. In some cases the way a person does a task makes that work sanctified and holy forever. It may be a very common everyday task, but after we have seen it done, it becomes different. When the Lord does something through us, He always transforms it. Our Lord takes our human flesh and transforms it, and now every believer's body has become "the temple of the Holy Spirit"

GOD BLESS

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals February 20, 2009

Dying For Justice
READ: Deut. 24:14-22
You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you from there. -Deuteronomy 24:18

When Presbyterian clergyman Elijah Lovejoy (1802-1837) left the pulpit, he returned to the printing presses in order to reach more people. After witnessing a lynching, Lovejoy committed to fighting the injustice of slavery. His life was threatened by hateful mobs, but this did not stop him: "If by compromise is meant that I should cease from my duty, I cannot make it. I fear God more than I fear man. Crush me if you will, but I shall die at my post." Four days after these words, he was killed at the hands of another angry mob.

Concern about justice for the oppressed is evident throughout Scripture. It was especially clear when God established the rules for His covenant people after they were released from Egyptian bondage (Deut. 24:18-22). Moses emphasized concern for the underprivileged (Ex. 22:22-27; 23:6-9; Lev. 19:9-10). Repeatedly, the Israelites were reminded that they had been slaves in Egypt and should deal justly with the underprivileged in their community. They were to love strangers ("aliens") because God loves them, and the Israelites had themselves been aliens in Egypt (Ex. 23:9; Lev. 19:34; Deut. 10:17-19).

God desires that His people affirm the supreme worth of every individual by fighting against injustice.  - Marvin Williams

Open my eyes, Lord, to people around me,
Help me to see them as You do above;
Give me the wisdom and strength to take action
So others may see the depth of Your love. -K. De Haan


Standing for justice means fighting against injustice.

God Has Need of Your Donkey
By Os Hillman

"Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them" (Matt 21:2-3).

In Bible times, donkeys were a primary means for distributing goods and services. They represented commerce in the scriptures. Jesus told the disciples He had need of someone's donkey to ride into Jerusalem, the religious and spiritual center of their society. It would become known as Jesus' triumphal entry.

My wife, Angie and I were attending a Christian business conference in Singapore. It was the night before I was to speak a second time when I was prompted to add a teaching segment on the above passage of scripture.

I am sure the disciples must have been uneasy with their master's request to untie a perfect stranger's donkey and take it. After all, He was asking them to take what was the equivalent to a man's "truck." And men love their trucks! Jesus was illustrating that He wanted to use that man's donkey, or that which represented their work, to bring glory to the Father.

The next morning Angie and I went to breakfast. While we were eating, a lady named Maggie joined us. Maggie was from Malaysia and was an intercessor for the conference. She fasted 40 days in preparation for the event. "So, Maggie, has the Lord spoken to you about this conference?" I said. "Oh yes," she said, very excitedly. On September 17 the Lord said that the Singapore business people needed to give their donkeys to the Lord." Angie and I looked at one another in amazement. God was confirming His Word to me from the night before. That day the focus of our conference became the need for the Singapore business people to "give their donkeys" to the Lord.

Friend, have you ever dedicated your work life to the Lord? Today, why not commit your donkey to the Lord. He will use it to bring glory to Himself and fulfill your life more than you could ever imagine.

Contact Os Hillman at www.marketplaceleaders.org.

Handbook to Renewal
Set Your Mind on Biblical Truth
Designed to renew your mind on a daily basis, this beautiful leather-bound handbook is most effective when used just before going to sleep so that you set your mind on biblical truth for the rest of the night. Each night, the readings are structured around five kinds of affirmations from Scripture: The Attributes of God, The Works of God, My Relationship to God, The Character I Want to Cultivate, and My Relationship to Others. Order This 

The Right Perspective

Yesterday's devotional showed us how money, riches, and wealth are untrustworthy.  So the natural question is, "Is wealth a bad thing?"

Let's go back to 1 Timothy 6:17-19 for our answer, 

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.  Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

I believe God makes it clear that if you are in a position where He has blessed you, you should enjoy it.  And do it guilt-free.  If you can take the whole family on a 30-day vacation to Europe, go for it.

Just make sure you pay your tithes first.  Make sure you are generous to the work of God, but enjoy what God gives you.  It is a gift of God to be able to enjoy the fruit of the work of your hands.

God is all for us enjoying whatever measure of prosperity we have.  He just wants us to be generous in proportion to our prosperity.  He wants us to be ready and willing to give big.  To be sowing extravagantly into the gospel and thereby laying up treasure in heaven.

The point is this:  Do not just live with your eye on this world.  Rather, live with your eye on the world to come.  If you do, you will truly be able to enjoy the wealth God gives you. 

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God

Taking the Initiative Against Daydreaming
READ:
Arise, let us go from here -John 14:31

Daydreaming about something in order to do it properly is right, but daydreaming about it when we should be doing it is wrong. In this passage, after having said these wonderful things to His disciples, we might have expected our Lord to tell them to go away and meditate over them all. But Jesus never allowed idle daydreaming. When our purpose is to seek God and to discover His will for us, daydreaming is right and acceptable. But when our inclination is to spend time daydreaming over what we have already been told to do, it is unacceptable and God's blessing is never on it. God will take the initiative against this kind of daydreaming by prodding us to action. His instructions to us will be along the lines of this: "Don't sit or stand there, just go!"

If we are quietly waiting before God after He has said to us, "Come aside by yourselves . . ." then that is meditation before Him to seek His will ( Mark 6:31 ). Beware, however, of giving in to mere daydreaming once God has spoken. Allow Him to be the source of all your dreams, joys, and delights, and be careful to go and obey what He has said. If you are in love with someone, you don't sit and daydream about that person all the time- you go and do something for him. That is what Jesus Christ expects us to do. Daydreaming after God has spoken is an indication that we do not trust Him.

GOD BLESS